Improvement in window-shades or venetian blinds



NITED STATES PATENT FFIC.

FRANCIS G. MARTIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO J II. BUTLER ANDT. D. IIUNTLING, OF NEW YORK CITY.

IMPROVEMENT IN WlNDOW-SHADES OR VENETIAN BLINDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Batent No. 156,644, dated November10, 1874: application filed March 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS O. MARTIN, of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Window Shades or Screens; and I do hereby declare thatthe fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, thatwill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to certain improvements whereby provision is madefor admitting light when the shadeis down, and whereby, also, the cordswhich connect the slats of the shade are concealed from view.

This invention consists in the combination of a roller and a windowshade or screen composed of a series of slats adjustably pivoted in oneor more portions or sections of the blind or screen, whereby the lattercan be rolled and unrolled from the roller, and one or more of the slatsadjusted, as hereinafter described. The invention further consists incombining, with the pivoted slats composing the window-shade, a cord foradjusting said slats to a horizontal or other position, and a spring forclosing the slats when the cord is released, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a face view of a window with myimproved shade applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken inthe line m at of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in the liney y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4iis avertical section taken in the line 2 z of Fig.1.

The shade B is composed of slats or strips of wood, or other suitablematerial, connected together by cords or leather, or other suitablematerial, so as to admit of being rolled around a cylinder. In one ormore desired portions of the shade a number of the slats or lath's aredivided into three pieces each, of about equal lengths. The end piecesI) b are connected together by'the cords in the same manner as thosewhich are left of the entire length. The central pieces I) have theirends near their lower edges pivoted to the inner ends of the end piecesb N, and their upper edges connected by a cord, rod, or wire, 0. Theuppermost central piece, N, is connected to the slat next above it bymeans of a spring, (1, which may be of metal, rubber, or other suitablematerial, and which serves to keep the central portions, and in linewith the remaining portion of the shade, when desired.

When it is desired to admit light or air without raising or rolling upthe shade, the cord, rod, or wire 0 is drawn down until the centralpieces are in a horizontal. or other desired position, and secured inany suitable manner. When released, the spring at closes the pieces b totheir former position.

The cords ff, which connect the slats, instead of being double andpassed on both sides of and between the edges of the slats, are passedthrough holes running edgewise through the slats or laths. By this meansthey are concealed from view, and prevented from exposure to wear andtear, which would result if they were arranged outside of the slats.

The upper ends of the cords fare attached to a cylinder or roller, 9,which is provided with gudgeons or journals, and with a pulley, h, whichmay, if desired, be made in one piece with the roller. Over the pulley hpasses a cord, 13, to which is attached a weight, 1, corresponding withthe weight of the shade. A box, m, is provided in window-frame for theweight to travel in, which box is furnished with a door, at, to aii'ordready access thereto whenever desired. This weight balances the shade soas to hold it at any point to which it may be raised or lowered.

I am aware that inside blinds or shades have been made in sections, andpivoted so or more of the slats adjusted, substantially as In testimonythat l claim the foregoing I specified, for the object herein set forth.have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of 2. In combination With thepivoted slats, -March,1874.

the cord o for adjusting said slats to a horizontal or other position,and the spring d for FRANCIS MARTIN returning the slats to a closedposition when W'itnesses:

the cord 0 is released, substantially as herein A. J. DE LACY,

shown and described. FRANCIS CLARE BOWEN.

